KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Former UMKC Track & Field runner Courtney Frerichs came through with a career-best performance at the Meeting Herculis 2018 in Monaco yesterday, setting an American 3,000-meter Steeplechase record of 9:00.85. Frerichs, an Olympian in 2016 and 2017, finished second in the event behind Beatrice Chepkoech from Kenya.

“I was trying to not pay too close attention to the splits. I knew if I was competitive and tried my best to win or be up in the top, I’d be close,” Frerichs told reporters following the race. “With 300 to go, I really thought I was going to dip under (nine minutes), but I think I was just running so fast I felt a little out of control. And so there are some things I need to keep working on. But I’m really happy with how I executed today.”

Her record setting performance made Frerichs the sixth-fastest ever in the women’s Steeplechase. Prior to Monaco, her previous best came at the World Championships in 2017 where she posted a time of 9:03.77.

As a member of the UMKC Track & Field team, Frerichs set a number of school records in both indoor and outdoor seasons. Indoor school records include the 3,000-meter run (9:35.89) at the 2014 WAC Championships and the 5,000-meter run (16:19.67) at the 2014 Iowa Classic. Frerichs recorded outdoor school-bests in the 1,500-meter, 2,000-meter Steeplechase, 3,000-meter, 3,000-meter Steeplechase and 5,000-meter runs